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Chemical composition of falling snow at Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica

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Abstract

Fourteen samples of fresh falling snow were collected at Antarctic coastal base Dumont d'Urville in 1984. The samples have been analysed for major ions (including MSA) by ion chromatography and acid titration. The results are relevant to the chemical composition of background precipitation in polar marine conditions. The seasalt aerosol contribution is dominant. All samples are found to be acidic in the range 3–16 μeq/l. The calculated non-seasalt sulfate (nssSO4 2-) concentration is significantly negative for 3 of the 14 samples. NssSO4 2- is found to be relatively high in summer and fall. MSA also exhibits the same pattern probably linked to local marine biogenic activity and/or atmospheric photochemical processes. The MSA to nssSO4 2- ratio is in good agreement with values reported for coastal Antarctic ice cores and subantarctic acrosol. The background mean value for nitrate concentration is 1.1 μeq/l but two very strong spikes (up to 16 μeq/l) are observed. The first seems to be linked with long range transport of continental air masses while the second (in winter) is clearly due to a sudden input of nitric acid, possibly from the stratosphere.

This paper represents a preliminary approach to a larger air and snow monitoring to be developped at this site.

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Maupetit, F., Delmas, R.J. Chemical composition of falling snow at Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica. J Atmos Chem 14, 31–42 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00115220

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